On the 7th March 2014, the YoungHort team of Directors and Ambassadors held the first ever YoungHort Conference at RHS Wisley.
From the very first time that the idea was thought of until the actual conference itself it has been an interesting learning curve and an unbelivable reality/ dream come true. The YoungHort conference was to show the industry that there are young people in Horticulture or that want to come in to Horticulture and aren't just your average school drop put with little to none GCSE's. This was an amzing experience for me.
I travelled down to the Wisley area on the Thursday afternoon/evening just after college finished with my best friend and fellow ambassador Jess Pickaver. The M1 and M25 were suprisingly free flowing and we weren't held up at all. As we drove past RHS Wisley gardens at 7:00pm it was still relatively light and we were in complete amazement and awe at the sheer size and structure of the gardens! Meeting Jamie Butterworth (fellow Director and Ambassador) was amazing! We all got on so well and it was great to finally properly meet him and get to know about his journey through Horticulture.
Bedtime was around the time of midnight and alarms were set for 5:30am. In the morning we sorted out all the final things to be taken to RHS Wisley and so our journey began. Arriving at RHS Wisley at 7:00am was amazing! It was light but not full sun and the entrance looked so magical! We walked up to the Hillside Events Centre where the YoungHort conference was going to take place and started setting up. The tables, chairs and table cloths had already been set out but Jess and I set up the Green room, swept down the hall to get rid of any last minute dirt, set up the teas and coffees and set out all the seating arrangements.
In the morning time flew past and it was amazing to see the development of the hall up until it was full of all our guests! At around 8:30am the main Director - Jack Shilley arrived, it was great to meet and catch up with him! We talked about the day and how we expected it to go and other bits and bobs. Michael Perry also arrived around 8:30 am with his goody boxes from Thompson&Morgan and so they were unloaded and went into the green room.
By 9:30am all the Ambassadors and Directors were at the Hillside events centre and it was such a great time getting to know everyone! The Directors had their photoshoot and then the whole team went for a big group photoshoot! It was lovely getting to walk round RHS Wisley seeing all the views and sites and bonding with the group! By 11am the hall was fully set up with all the trade stands and food and drinks out. Guests were slowly arriving and by 11:30am everyone had arrived and the event was a go...
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Part 1 of 2.. Stay tuned for Part 2 of 2!
Fiona. :)
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